Brainstem electronic implants for bilateral anacusis following surgical removal of cerebello pontine angle lesions

The multichannel auditory brainstem implant (ABI) has been used successfull y to treat deafness in individuals with neurofibromatosis type II. The devi ce has been implanted in nearly 150 recipients worldwide, and clinical tria ls with the device are approaching completion. The implantation and fitting of the multichannel ABI differ significantly from cochlear implantation, a nd the processes are illustrated in a series of case studies. Performance d ata also are included from recipients with up to 7 years experience.